Aug 14, 2012

Cilantro Lime Chicken Rice Bake

So, I don’t really know what to call this dish but it. is. delicious. This has become one of our family favorites. I’m not going to lie, it’s not a quick easy meal, but it’s worth it. It’s not difficult, just takes some time. My sister is the best cook and finds all the best recipes. Not sure where she got this one but it’s fabulous.
sb cass copy

Start with marinating your chicken. It has lime zest & juice, garlic, oil, & cilantro. Yum. I start this the night before so it can marinate all night & the next day. Plus, it’s one less thing to do for dinner.
sb marinade
The morning you’ll be eating the dinner I make creamy tomatillo ranch so it will thicken up by dinner time. I think it only needs a couple hours in the fridge but for me it’s easier to just get it out of the way.
sb lime chkn
sb ranch

Then you start the layering. On the bottom goes your cilantro lime rice:sb limechkn
sb chkn lime
Then you put your shredded grilled chicken down and spread sour cream on top:
sb lime casse
I don’t have a picture of the next step but you then layer mango salsa on top of the sour cream and cover it with shredded pepper jack cheese.
And this is the end result…DElish.
sb casserole
sb cass
Now for the recipes:
Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade (for 4 chicken breasts)
-3/4 c vegtable oil
-Juice and zest of 2 limes
-2 cloves garlic -2 tsp sugar
-1/2 tsp salt -1/4 tsp black pepper
-1/2 C finely chopped cilantro
*I put everything in blender and have it mix and chop it 

  Cilantro Lime Rice
-1 cup uncooked rice
-1 can chicken broth
-1 cup water
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 Tbls freshly squeezed lime juice
-2 tsp sugar
-3 Tbls finely chopped cilantro
* I throw the rice, broth, water, garlic & some lime juice into a rice cooker and let it cook. While it’s cooking I mix the sugar, lime juice & cilantro in a bowl. When rice is finished fluff the rice while mixing the sugar mixture into the rice.

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
-1 batch prepared Ranch Buttermilk Dressing
-3-5 tomatillos (quartered)
-1 handful of cilantro
-1 jalepeno (optional)
-juice of 1 lime
-salt & pepper to taste
*Blend all ingredients in blender and chill for 2 hours before serving.
*This ranch is for drizzling on top of each slice of casserole after it's been cooked right before serving.

-Sour cream for 3rd layer (I use almost a whole small container of sour cream)



**To create your bake: Layer cilantro lime rice, then grilled chicken, then sour cream, mango salsa (we buy prepared from deli), cover the top with shredded pepperjack cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through, about 20 min. Then turn on broil until the cheese crisps a little. When serving, drizzle tomatillo dressing on top and ENJOY!


























32 comments:

  1. Okay that looks so yummy:) You've told me about this dish before... after seeing that picture I will be making it soon! What deli has mango salsa?

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  2. It's pretty much our favorite around here :) And Wal Mart deli used to but last time I went I couldn't find it!! Devastation. So I will be on the lookout from now on...

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  3. Not sure where you are from but I have found mango salsa at Costco and Trader Joes. I can't wait to make this.... Thanks!

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  4. Not sure where you are from but I have found mango salsa at Costco and Trader Joes. I can't wait to make this.... Thanks!

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  5. Not sure where you are from but I have found mango salsa at Costco and Trader Joes. I can't wait to make this.... Thanks!

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  6. Not sure where you are from but I have found mango salsa at Costco and Trader Joes. I can't wait to make this.... Thanks!

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  7. Not sure where you are from but I have found mango salsa at Costco and Trader Joes. I can't wait to make this.... Thanks!

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  8. this looks soo delish and i totally want to make this but im kinda confused. is the sour cream layer actually the ranch tomatillo cream mixture? or do you do the layer of sour cream and a layer of the creamy ranch tomatillo?

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  9. That looks pretty tasty! I'm disinclined to use the mango salsa, but I'm sure it's good.

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  10. I am literally drooling, I think I'll put that chicken on next weeks menu!

    marissa
    rae gun ramblings

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  11. I'm confused about the sour cream too. I didn't see it in the list of ingredients either or in any of the recipes. Also, is there a recipe for the prepared batch of buttermilk dressing or is it just a bottle of store bought? Thanks!

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  12. Same question as others- where does the tomatillo ranch fit in, and the sour cream? It looks delicious!! :)

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  13. Hey guys! Sorry i just saw all these comments :) I edited the directions to hopefully clarify but I layer first the rice, then the chicken. Then I take almost a whole small container of sour cream and spread that on top of the chicken. The tomotillo ranch is for drizzling on top of each piece of casserole after it's cooked. Thanks for stopping by and please let me know if you have any other questions!

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    1. this sounds great, but I still dont see how much a batch of prepared ranch is? Can you substitute a cup of ranch from bottle? if not, how much? or how do you prepare a batch of prepared ranch?
      Thank you!

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    2. Yes you can use prepared ranch. Or just use the ranch packets. To make the Ranch you use 1 cup buttermilk & 1 cup mayo & one package of ranch seasoning.

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  14. Do you have a recipe for the Ranch Buttermilk Dressing or do you just use store bought? If it's store bought, how much do you use? Thanks for your help!

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  15. So, it says to marinate the chicken, then says to layer the "shredded chicken." I'm assuming that means the chicken is cooked before it is layered? How do you generally prepare the chicken? On the grill, baked, slow cooker? Does it matter?

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    1. I noticed at the very bottom it says grilled chicken.....i'm assuming you could cook in a frying pan or even in oven....sounds deliscious, until I got to the mango salsa part...could I substitute regular salsa??

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    2. I normally grill the marinated chicken. Then shred. Then layer into the casserole. I've also tried it in the crockpot and it tasted great! So, I think in the pan or oven would work too!

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  16. I'm also interested in hearing if anyone has substituted the mango salsa for another... =)

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    1. I couldn't find mango once and used regular and it was still super yummy!

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  17. I am making this at the moment and it is so hard to understand. What is a sugar mixture? What is a batch of buttermilk ranch dressing? This is the most confusing recipe. Hope it turns out good.

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    1. Sorry, I see now the sugar mixture, but still unsure of exact amount for buttermilk dressing.

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    2. I use the packets and do 1 cup milk/buttermilk & 1 cup mayo & 1 packet

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  18. Looking forward to trying this tomorrow -- it's been on my curious mind ever since I saw it on Pinterest :)

    Nicole @ www.babyfoodscoops.com

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  19. This looks so good! My hubby does all of the cooking and I have put in a request for this tomorrow. I can't wait. Found your recipe on Pinterst...Thanks a million!

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  20. Got it off Pinterest, Posted to facebook, I have to make this. It sounds so good, don't know if my family will like it, (I always have to bland things down a bit) this is big on flavor, just my taste so they'd better try it. lol Thanks for posting this, can't wait to make one day!! ~Christina from www.creativetizzy.blogspot.com Have a great day!!

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  21. I made this for my family without the mango salsa. I didn't have that on hand....was STILL A HUGE HIT WITH MY FAMILY!

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  22. So glad you guys liked it!! It's definitely a fave around here :) Adding the jalapeno would be yummy!

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  23. How much mango salsa do you use?

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